Benjen walked the streets of Whiterun with a huge smile on her face, she was just too damn glad to finally be home.

As a traveller, she enjoyed the time spent on the road, and in the wilderness. But sometimes, it got lonely, and she started feeling homesick.

She had two homes: her home back at the dark brotherhood sanctuary, and the one in Whiterun. Both places completely different, but they felt equally great to her, like a balance between mania and dementia... one place surrounded with normal citizens living calm, boring lives... and the other full of ruthless assassins.

She arrived to the mead-hall of the companions and opened one of the doors. She hadn't been to that place in quite a while, but everything was just as she remembered it.

Athis and Njada were fighting again, Skjor stared from a safe distance with a bit of desdain. The rest were eating, drinking and talking... but someone was missing.

Aela, Aela the Huntress was nowhere to be seen.

She walked through the hall and down the stairs, unnoticed by everyone. Tilma was sweeping the floor when she arrived to the living quarters, and the old lady gave the Dragonborn a small smile.

"Oh, Benny, everyone thought you were gone forever! Good to know you are still alive." She said as she swiped.

"You know me, Tilma. I'm hard to kill." Said Benny as she smiled warmly.

"Of course you are, sweetie. Oh, but I don't think you came all the way down here just to chat with an old woman. You want to see Aela, right?" Asked the woman.

"Yes ma'am." Said Benny like a well behaved child.

"She is in her room. She has some letters for you too." Said Tilma.

That caught Benjen by surprise.

"Letters you say? From whom?" Asked the Madwoman.

"I don't know, you'll have to ask her." Said Tilma.

Benjen made a small bow to Tilma before walking towards Aela's room.

Benjen and Aela had known each other for several years, since the Redguard arrived to Whiterun nine years ago. She, Leah and Benny were huge friends... until Leah was killed, and Benny left the city for several months, usually returning for a month or two before hitting the road again.

The Redguard slowly opened the door and saw the huntress near her desk, her presence unnoticed.

Benjen slowly walked towards her, stealthily and without being seen, she placed herself behind the huntress.

"Beware of the... HORKER!" She placed her hands on her shoulders and Aela turned around and threw a punch in the Redguard's direction, Benny managed to dodge it before it was too late.

"What in obliv-!? Benjen Sheothson what the hell are you doing!?" She yelled, her usual calm and controlled tone completely gone now.

"Heya there, how are you doing?" Asked Benjen.

"Are you serious right now?" Asked Aela.

"I never am!" Said Benny as she smiled a bit "good to see you, by the way, it's been months." Said Benjen.

Aela seemed to soften a bit.

"It's good to see you too, Benny. It's been... a rough couple of months." Said Aela.

"Too much work or too little?" Asked Benny.

"Too much, the animals seem to be getting more aggressive. And we have to fend off vampire attacks from Whiterun too, since the city guards are too weak to handle things on their own... bunch of snowberries." She scoffed rather angrily.

"Well that's why I came back. I want to lend a hand." Said Benny.

Aela rolled her eyes at the shorter woman.

"You always say that, and then you disappear after a month or two." Said Aela.

"Nah, Im being serious this time, I'm gonna stay. Also... I'm in a bit of a situation with the stormcloaks, so I need to lay low for a couple of weeks." Said Benjen.

"... what did you do now?"

"I told Ulfric to piss off, he was annoying me and I do not want to pick a side in the war." Said Benjen.

"I know you want to stay neutral. But you could really make a difference, you know? Help the people of Skyrim..." said Aela.

"Hey I thought you were on my side, aren't the companions supposed to be neutral too? I am not going to fight on a war that isn't mine, they can solve their problems without me." Said Benny.

"We are supposed to stay neutral, but you are free to do as you please. If you joined a side you could stop the unnecessary killing." Said Aela.

"I am not going to do it. I saved these ungrateful assholes from Alduin and all they gave me was a middle finger, I'm still wanted in like 3 big cities. I'm done saving people who do not give a fuck about me, they can learn how to save themselves... or die trying, I don't care." Said Benjen, her voice lower and her eyes slightly golden.

Aela didn't say anything.

Benjen tried to change the subject.

"Are those letters for me?" She asked, pointing at the letters on the table.

"Yes, they are. The courier left them here for you about a week ago." Said Aela.

Benny took the letters in her hands, there were two of them: one that had a small red seal, and other that was just a ragged piece of paper. She opened the ragged one first, reading it out loud.

"In these days of war and strife... bla bla bla... adopt? Adopt!? Me? With a child? Now that's hilarious." She wrinkled the letter and threw it to the floor carelessly.

She opened the other one and read it silently.

Her hands trembled a bit and her eyes widened in surprise. After finishing, she closed the letter, she was quiet... which was strange.

"Everything ok, Benjen?" Asked Aela.

"I... I need to go to Riften right now." She said and walked towards the door of the room.

"Benjen wait, what happened?" Asked Aela.

"I'll tell you later, see ya!" She opened the door and left the room quickly.

Benjen Sheothson could be a strange little woman, in Aela's opinion, but she had something... she didn't quite know what it was.